The 2013 Aussie Millions has come to a close, and once again this annual tournament series hosted at the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia has had a huge impact on the early shape of the POY race. The biggest changes to the top ten came as a result of the $10,000 AUD buy-in no-limit hold’em main event. The marquee tournament of the series drew a total of 629 entrants, building a $6,640,345 prize pool. After a final table that ran so long that it was eventually paused for 10 hours to allow both the players and the TV crew to rest, Malaysia’s Mervin Chan eventually emerged victorious. For the win the 29-year-old earned $1,689,118 USD and 2,100 POY points, launching him all the way up to 2nd place in the overall standings.

Chan was not the only player to break into the top ten as a result of the Aussie Millions main event. In fact, the top four finishers in the event all found their way toward the top of the standings. Runner-up Joe Cabret earned $1,055,699 and 1,750 points, good enough to climb to 4th place in the POY rankings. Finnish high-stakes superstar Patrik Antonius finished third for $633,419 and 1,400 points and now sits in 8th.

Fourth place finisher Dan Shak earned $422,279 and 1,050 points at his third final table of the year, and now sits in 6th place in the overall POY standings as a result. His year-to-date earnings already exceed $901,440. Shak’s prior final table finishes this year include an eighth-place showing in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $100,000 super high roller for $228,960 and 100 points as well as a fourth-place finish in the Aussie Millions $100,000 AUDchallenge for $250,201 and 300 POY points.

The winner of that Aussie Millions $100,000 AUD challenge was Andrew Robl. The former online cash-game specialist earned $1,055,699 and 600 for POY points the win. The runner-up in that event, Igor Kurganov earned $643,976 and 500 points. All told, Kurganov has made four final tables already in 2013, including all three of the the Aussie Millions’ high roller events. He followed up his first score with a fourth-place finish in the huge $250,000 AUD challenge for $527,849 and 300 points, and then won the $25,000 AUD challenge for another $290,317 and 420 points. With these huge scores combined with a fourth-place finish in a smaller $5,000 event at the PCA, the German pro has positioned himself in 9th place in the overall POY standings with to-date earnings of $1,488,402 already in 2013.

The winner of the $250,000 AUD challenge was none other than 2011 runner-up in the same event and 2011 $100,000 AUD challenge champion Sam Trickett. For the win the British pro earned $2,111,397 and 600 POY points, increasing his lifetime tournament earnings to more than $19.5 million, the second most of any player in the game’s history.

WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open

A total of 1,042 entries were made in the 2013 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open $3,500 no-limit hold’em main event, re-entry event, building a prize pool of $3,335,442. Andy Hwang emerged victorious, earning $730,053 and 1,440 POY points for the win. As a result the 27-year-old poker professional from Houston, Texas was catapulted into 7th place in the overall POY standings. Runner-up Jim Anderson earned $438,698 and 1,200 POY points, moving him into a tie for 11th place in the POY race’s current standings.

WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Tunica

A total of 666 entries were made in the 2013 World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah’s Tunica main event, building a prize pool of $999,000. After two starting days and two more long days of play, only one player remained: Ryan Stevenson from Horn Lake, Mississippi. The 26-year-old engineer earned $204,795 and 840 POY, climbing to 25th place in the POY standings as a result. Runner-up Norman McKeldin earned $126,723 and 700, and climbed to 39th in the overall rankings.

Post a Comment

Messages that harass, abuse or threaten other members; have obscene or otherwise objectionable content; have spam, commercial or advertising content or links may be removed and may result in the loss of your Card Player Account. Please do not post any private information unless you want it to be available publicly. Never assume that you are completely anonymous and cannot be identified by your posts.